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• from Cybersleaze:BLUR frontman DAMON ALBARN is set to marry his ELASTICA girlfriend JUSTINE FRISCHMANN. British tabloid the DAILY STAR reports BEETLEBUM singer Albarn, 29, revealed his plans to pals while on Blur's American tour. Albarn and CONNECTION singer Frischmann, 27, have been dating for six years - but Albarn recently moved out of their London home. Now the couple are expected to marry next summer. A musician who played on the tour told the paper, "Damon is going to marry Justine. He told me so more than one time."

• from Cybersleaze:THE BRIT-POP APPROACH TO DRYING OUT QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Just because I'm not drinking it doesn't mean I can't chase girls and make a fool of myself. It just means I can still remember what I did the next day." - BLUR's ALEX JAMES explaining the implications of his decision to go on the wagon for three months. The party-loving British musician, 28, was once a permanent, drunken fixture at London's legendary Groucho Club. We do sincerely hope that he continues his charmingly impish behavior, but perhaps he will now consider showering more often and smelling a bit less like a brewery. Wouldn't that be lovely.
• DAMON ALBARN had moral support from his girlfriend JUSTINE FRISCHMANN when it came to facing OASIS over the weekend. The BLUR frontman was joined on stage at the mammoth WEENIE ROAST festival sponsored by radio station K-ROQ in California yesterday by the ELASTICA singer. Frischmann agreed to help out her boyfriend by playing keyboards for the band after the COUNTRY HOUSE hitmakers were plagued by technical glitches prior to the show. But Albarn also reportedly wanted his doting girlfriend by his side because his one time arch rivals LIAM and NOEL GALLAGHER were on the same billing. A Kroq source says, "Justine was ushered on in the last minute, much to the relief of Damon. I don't know is he was more worried about the sound equipment packing up or having to stand up to Oasis on his own. But whatever, he was happier when Justine joined him by his side." Fiery OASIS frontman Liam has poked fun at Albarn and Frischmann during the longtime heated rivalry between the Britpop challengers. Also appearing at the festival were fellow Brit bands THE CEHMICAL BROTHERS, THE CURE, ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN and RADIOHEAD as well as popular American bands THE WALLFLOWERS, FOO FIGHTERS, MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES and SOCIAL DISTORTION.